Chris Pepper, director of building and interiors marketing specialist Time54, explains how Continuing Professional Development learning could be your key to unlocking enhanced productivity.
What is CPD?
CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development, and is the term used to describe the ongoing professional learning activities available to help your team develop their learning. In many professions regular training is necessary to maintain status or industry memberships, and in fast-moving environments where constant innovation is taking place, such KBB retail, it is particularly relevant.
Why is CPD important for my business?
There are many benefits for the KBB retailer. According to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), CPD can help architects “stay up to date, competent, professional, capable and resilient while also enabling them to learn new skills and specialisms,” and this is true of retailers and designers too. CPD can set a high standard across the company for staff development, and done consistently, CPD can improve productivity by ensuring motivated and skilled employees.
CPD also offers the following benefits:
* Ensures your business is up to date with latest trends and changes in the industry
* Endorses a learning culture in your organisation
* Improves the reputation of the company among prospective employees and clients
* Helps to retain good employees
What benefit is CPD to my business?
As a KBB retailer, knowledge and understanding is essential for building relationships with clients. Your team’s technical understanding of your products and service is a crucial reason for a client to engage and develop a relationship with you and your business.
There are plenty of CPDs out there for your team. Naturally it’s important you select the right one for your business and its market. Choose one with an adequate level of expertise to equip your team with current, up-to-date information, and one that is well-respected in the field of focus.
CPD needs to be engaging, factual and informative – it shouldn’t be a sales pitch. When done well, CPD will educate your team, giving them valuable knowledge to relay to clients, providing the opportunity to build awareness of your brand and increase recognition. It can potentially transform and enhance your reputation from one offering a service, to becoming a trusted advisor in your field.
We know that CPD provides benefits for both employer and employee. For you, having well-informed staff undertaking independent learning is an obvious bonus. For the employee, learning a regular CPD programme will help build confidence, personal skills and understanding. Additionally, it demonstrates your commitment to them and shows your business has ambition to improve.
The fact is, people buy people, and having well-informed, motivated, and happy team members is crucial to the success of any business!
If you want advice about CPD learning and how it can benefit your business, get in touch with Chris at Time54: time54.co.uk.
